Cambodian Dump Children

Sunday, Jan 22: Another great and varied day of activity was had by all today! In the morning, many of us headed out for some serious shopping since time is running short now. Soapea, our favorite tuk tuk driver led a group of us to a beautiful multi level store that sold a variety of beautiful arts and crafts and antiques.  Many of us bought buddhas, silver jewelry, silk scarves and runners. Then we were taken to another store near the central market for more shopping.  We got back to the hotel just in time to hop on the bus to take us to Friends restaurant, which is the number one rated restaurant in the city.  The concept is that young people train other young people the skills needed to work in restaurants with very high standards for quality of food, service and hygiene. They also run a store that sells crafts made by young people. Lunch was great!  Many people bought the cookbooks. Everywhere in the city we see celebrations for new years.  Many establishments are closed, red lanterns and banners hang everywhere, people burn fake money in outside burners, trees with yellow flowers are on display with ornaments hanging on them and the offerings at the spirit houses are especially elaborate!  At our hotel, they had a whole suckling pig and a roast duck place in front of the house. Then we had the bus take us to just outside a huge dump in the city.  We got off the bus and walked through a very poor small village to a school and orphanage run by a lady who was nominated and won CNN hero of the year.  She was out of the country visiting a rotarian in Canada! She is making it possible for children who work with their parents picking through the dump to get to school for full days. She works to help parents with food purchases so that they don't need to have their children working alongside them each day. The school was closed today but it is very impressive looking and about 4 floors high.  They study Khmer in the morning and English in the afternoon.  There were only 50 or so children there since it was Chinese New Year.  These children were beautiful and really engaged with us individually as we moved through the group giving each child a Canada pin.  I sat on the floor singing the little English ditty "if you're happy and you know it" with about 6 students. We talked a little too and their English skills are quite good.  Some little girls walked up to Dave and put their little hands on his knees and asked what he did for a job.  One boy looked wwwaayyy up at Keith and said he was very tall.  We did the bicycle distribution of the 51 bicycles fairly quickly and then the children clapped and said goodbye as we left.  Some followed us all the way back to the bus. More amazing memories to add to the bank!! Posted by Linda